I haven’t needed to go out prom dress hunting much, so going out these past couple of days has been an eye opener. Living in Utah, I guess I had some assumptions that have now been cleared up and I am here to report both good and bad news.

The bad news is that the few stores we have here are flooded with very pretty, and extremely colorful, dresses that have spaghetti straps, or no straps. As we walked into some of the stores, these dresses almost exploded right off the racks; the colors bright, vibrant, and very eye catching. This type of dress is in the windows, as well as the first thing you see inside, all for the purpose of embracing you into the depths of their cleavage. And frankly, they are hard to resist. But, you know immediately who these stores are catering to.

We were actually looking for an elegant formal dress, which my daughter needs for a recital she is giving. After swimming through the sea of glamour, we began collecting the few cap sleeve dresses we could find. They were all more subdued in color, not quite as “fun”.

There aren’t that many formal dress stores, and they are all bridal shops. They all have an in-house alteration expert, so you are able to alter the perfect dress, in most cases. Here’s a tip though: Don’t go last minute, because guaranteed, you will need to alter the dresses they offer and you won’t have time to get it done.

I don’t know how it is in other states, or countries, but frankly, I was a little shocked to discover the situation here in Utah. We found a store that carries the “LDS” name, and couldn’t find even one modest dress inside. Many advertise modestwear, but only after you pick the dress and have it altered. We did find one store whose name suggests just what we were looking for, but it went out of business. That message rang sour inside me.

We finally found a store where every dress was beautiful, as well as cap sleeved and modest. Bridal Image is a small outfit, in Bountiful (North of Salt Lake City).

Surprisingly, this store didn’t advertise its “LDS” connection, they just demonstrated it by the collection they carried. This is a family run business of wedding planners, who demonstrate what they believe. Inside, you will freely hear discussion about temple procedure, valuable tips, and a comfortable atmosphere. And here’s the best part: They serve customers from all over the world. Check out their site at www.bridalimage.com.

We were so grateful to have found them! “Grateful daughters of God guard their bodies carefully, for they know they are the wellspring of life and they reverence life. They don’t uncover their bodies to find favor with the world. They walk in modesty to be in favor with their Father in Heaven. For they know He loves them dearly.” (Margaret D. Nadauld)

At one store, I questioned how many modest dresses actually walk out the door adorning these young girls. The sales lady had to admit that the girls walk in the store all glassy eyed, wanting the sparkliest dress in the shop. But the mothers encourage strongly that the girls can pick a pretty dress, but it needs to be modified and fixed up so it’s modest. That’s a good result of a mixed message.

Thank you, mothers, for insisting that your daughters hold on to the values they have been taught. David B. Haight said, “I challenge the young women of the Church, who associate with and date our young priesthood bearers, to become real guardians of their morality. You can. You must. Many of you are. Please do not underestimate your role.”

The For the Strength of Youth Guidelines clearly state:

“Immodest clothing includes short shorts and skirts, tight clothing, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and other revealing attire. Young women should wear clothing that covers the shoulder and avoid clothing that is low-cut in the front or the back or revealing in any other manner. Someday you will receive your endowment in the temple. Your dress and behavior should help you prepare for that sacred time.”

The dress we purchased did not have the flashy, vibrant colors that were so enticing. But it is elegant, and magnifies my daughter’s inner beauty.